Explanations are a particularly unnecessary style of telling. It’s likely that you know by now that both showing and telling are necessary in fiction. But explanations are often the kind of telling that should instead be shown. Or even worse, they might be telling that has already been shown but is being told as well.   If you’ve shown the reason a character does something—typically in reaction to another event—then you don’t also have to tell why the character did it. The showing is sufficient. Readers will catch on. And if they see that you’re explaining as well, they will notice. They’ll notice you, the author,...

    “Cheat your landlord if you can and must, but do not try to shortchange the Muse. It cannot be done. You can’t fake quality any more than you can fake a good meal.” William S. Burroughs   “The road to hell is paved with adverbs.” Stephen King   “Not a wasted word. This has been a main point to my literary thinking all my life.” Hunter S. Thompson   “The greatest part of a writer’s time is spent in reading, in order to write; a man will turn over half a library to make one book.” Samuel Johnson...

      The Half Paper Moon     Author: Melissa Ingoldsby Release Date: November 2023 Description: The Half Paper Moon is a crime drama that touches on themes that are dark, painfully sketched and yet very relatable and real. Connie Alvarez, a young college woman is still reeling from discovering that her beloved girlfriend Barbara is missing and presumed dead. Connie becomes involved in the high profile first degree murder case and as the trial commences other strange things come to light. She is also trying to piece together the timeline with the help of their mutual circus friends,...

      A Dance of Wind and Shadows     Author: Joshua Abraham Release Date: November 2023 Description:   A Dance of Wind and Shadows is an adult fantasy about redemption and discovering the true self.   Sariel Asheram is the commanding Fae general of the armies of The Haven, the ruling authority of the country of Keralis. The Haven is led by the brutal King Seraph and High Priest Belil. Sariel and his friend Aquiel and their dragons are tasked with ending rebellion in the northern neighbours of Nua. They encounter powerful magic and Sariel’s shadow and lightening...

      Skylark     Author: Sam Sommer Release Date: October 2023 Description:   Abigale Skylark opens the door to her apartment only to find that her partner of two years has left her and made off with all her possessions. In the ensuing twenty-four hours she will lose her job and receive a letter from her father explaining that he’s taken his own life. As her world collapses around her like the proverbial house of cards, Abby comes to the bitter realization that it’s high time to reassess her life, and the choices she’s made along the way....

      The Shoes That Charlotte Wore     Author: Alicia Villasenor Release Date: October 2023 Description:   The Shoes That Charlotte Wore is an adult, urban fantasy novel from Alicia Villasenor.   Ballerina Jessica Lavigne is envious of Charlotte for all things Charlotte is, that Jessica is not. Hitting rock bottom is a new low for Jessica who becomes a witness-turned-suspect in a murder case with a sinking dance career.   To make matters worse, her hometown is invaded by monsters and her secret crush continues to shun her. That is until a demigod named Nimai walks into...

      The Reticulan Choice     Author: V. Hardy Doolittle Release Date: October 2023 Description:   THE RETICULAN CHOICE  is a science fiction mystery thriller from author V. Hardy Doolittle.   In 2077, Colonel David Baker was a prisoner of war on an alien planet. Fifteen years later, he is anticipating and dreading heading back into deep space. A decade and a half of nightmares, panic attacks, and heavy drinking has not improved his memory of the time in captivity.   David Baker lands in the middle of an escalating conflict between the alien Reticulan civilization and a...

      Pursuing Necromancers     Author: Rich Feitelberg Release Date: September 2023 Description:   This is a fantasy adventure from author Rich Feitelberg.   The land of Thalacia is threatened by sorcery and the presence of powerful forces. Necromancers attempt to wreak havoc in Thalacia by stealing a magic gem and have other nefarious schemes in mind. The necromancer is planning to use the gem in a powerful magic device. Evan Pierce, a demon hunter and protector of the realm, must discover the truth behind the mysterious plots.   In this sword and sorcery tale, the uneasy balance...

      Lords of Babylon     Author: Debra Hoffmann Knowles Release Date: September 2023 Description:   Lords of Babylon is an epic mystery adventure in the ancient world of Babylon from Debra Hoffmann Knowles.   Melcazar, the High Priest of Marduk, is believed to be an incarnation of Babylon's patron God. He is the Guardian of Babylon, but holds a secret not all know and it could well cost him all. When his life is threatened, he must appeal to Mehen Pet Tha, a fearsome agent of Justice.   Mehen finds himself in Babylon and drawn to the...

      Icewind     Author: Luke K. Wilson Release Date: September 2023 Description:   Icewind is an epic science fiction adventure from author Luke K. Wilson.   Icewind begins in the year 2974, on Neptune’s industrialized moon,Triton. Mark Elson a brilliant particle physicist charged with developing multi-dimensional space travel, has recently been acquitted of murder by a mega-corporation losing its control of an over-populated solar system.   When Mark's initial test of this technology goes wrong, the flawed manipulation of time and space sends him thirty-five billion years into the future to a world spiraling into the mouth...